Water-tight fastener

ABSTRACT

A water-tight fastener comprising two opposite rows of engaging teeth, teeth-supporting cloth pieces having inner side edges tightly received in the engaging teeth, water-tight pieces attached to the teeth-supporting cloth pieces and having inner side edges superimposed on the side edges of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces, and resilient water-tight attachments applied to the base end of the fastener on the opposite sides of the fastener.

United States Patent 11 1 Hamamura [45] Dec. 9, 1975 [5 WATER-TIGHT FASTENER 2,853,758 9/1958 Topf 2/82 1 1 m m 5121221 7122; 21:11:12? 22/2221 R [73 Assignee; Daiichi Rubber Co Ltd Japan 3,668,745 6/1972 Krupp 24/205.l R [22] Filed: Jam 26, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 578,863 6/1959 Canada 24/2051 R [21] Ap l. No.: 326,746 829,284 1/1952 Germanym. 24/2051 R 1,323,475 2/1963 France 24/205.l R

30 Forei A 11 ti Pri D ta 1 J 5 ca on omy a Primary ExaminerBernard A. Gelak une apan 47-55760 Attorney Agent, or Firm lrving weiner [52] US. Cl 24/205.1 R TRQ [51] Int. Cl. A44B 19/32 [57] ABS [58] Field of Search 24/2051 R, 205.1 c; A Waterftlght fastener compnslng two 3 2 /2 1, 82; 9 B30, 329, 331 341 of engaging teeth, teeth-support1ng cloth pieces havlng Inner side edges tightly received in the engaging teeth, [561 Cited 212273252; Wed 21 8132321 n vlng inner 1 e e ges supe UNITED STATES PATENTS on the side edges of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces,

and resilient water-tight attachments applied to the ogers 2,120,924 6/1938 Stillschweig 24/205.1 R j l of the fastener on the opposlte Sldes of the 2,287,877 6/1942 Hard 36/50 I 2,371,776 3/1945 Orman 24/205.l R

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,924,305

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,924,305

US. Patent Dec. 9 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,924,305

WATER-TIGHT FASTENER The present invention relates to a water-tight fastening assembly, in particular relates to a water-tight fastener for use in conjunction with articles, such as water-tight boots, raincoats, trousers, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Heretofore, there have been proposed and employed a great variety of fasteners for use in various articles such as water-tight boots, raincoats, water-tight trousers, and the like. In most of the conventional type fasteners, there are provided two opposite rows of engaging teeth attached to the adjacent side edges of teethsupporting cloth pieces to be caused to mesh with each other in a staggered relationship by a slidable fastening means as the fastening means slides along the rows of teeth to a fastener closing position, whereby the opposite side edges of an article to which the fastener is attached are water-tightly joined together. Therefore, when such conventional fasteners are closed, since clearances are inevitably left between the meshing teeth and the teeth are supported on the cloth pieces, it is impossible to prevent water from leaking through the clearances and the teeth-supporting cloth pieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a water-tight fastening assembly including first members connected to selectively engageable fastenable means. Slidable fastening means are secured to the selectively engageable fastenable means for movement between a fastener open position at a fastener closed position. Water-tight second members are each connected to an associate one of the first members in an arrangement such that when the slidable fastening means moves the selectively engageable fastenable means into the fastener closed position, at least a portion of the water-tight second members are urged to firmly abut against each other to provide a water-tight seal therebetween.

This invention relates to a water-tight fastener for use in articles, such as water-tight boots, raincoats, watertight trousers, and the like, and more particularly, to a fastener for use in such articles provided with improved water-tight means to prevent water from leaking through the articles.

One principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved water-tight fastener for use in articles, such as water-tight fastener for use in articles such as water-tight boots, raincoats, water-tight trousers and the like which can effectively eliminate the disadvantage of the prior art fasteners as mentioned hereinabove.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved water-tight fastener for use in the abovementioned articles which is provided with improved water leakage prevention means.

For attaining the above-mentioned purposes, according to the present invention, resilient water-tight pieces made of rubber or synthetic resin are glued to the exposed surface of teeth-supporting cloth pieces which respectively, have engaging teeth attached to one or the inner side edge thereof, with the inner side edges of the water-tight pieces slightly extending beyond the inner side edges of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces, whereby when the engaging teeth are caused to mesh with each other the inner side edges of the water-tight pieces are caused to abut against each other to provide a water-tight seal therebetween and at the same time, to completely cover the engaging teeth.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided a water-tight fastener for use in articles, such as water-tight boots, raincoats, water-tight trousers, and the like, which comprises two opposite rows of engaging teeth supported by separate cloth pieces at the inner side edges of the latter for meshing with each other, a slidable fastening means in engagement with said opposite rows of engaging pawls for movement between a fastener closing position and a fastener opening position, resilient water-tight pieces each attached to the exposed side of each of said teeth-supporting cloth pieces and having the inner side edge extending beyond the adjacent edge of the associated teeth-supporting cloth piece, said inner side edges of the watertight pieces being adapted to abut against each-other when said fastener is closed thereby to provide a watertight seal therebetween and at the same time, to completely cover said engaging teeth, and at least one water-tight reinforcement attachment provided at the base end of said fastener on one side thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a plan view of a first embodiment of watertight fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention with a portion thereof taken away;

FIG. 2 is a reverse side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of said water-tight fastener of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the right-half portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of watertight fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the righthalf portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of watertight fastener constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 8., is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the right-half portion of FIG. 7.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention will be now described referring to the accompanying drawings and more particularly, to FIGS. 1 through 4 which show an example of a first embodiment of a water-tight fastening assembly or fastener according to the principles of the invention. As shown in these figures, the fastener comprises selectively engageable fastenable means, such as two opposite rows of engaging teeth 1, which are respectively secured in an equally spaced relationship to first members, such as opposite narrow teeth-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3. The teeth-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3 have on one side thereof water-tight second members, such as elastic water-tight pieces 4 and 5, respectively, secured thereto by means of gluing, for example. Each of the engaging teeth 1 in one row has an engaging tip end I for meshing with the corresponding one of the similar teeth 1 in the opposite row.

The elastic water-tight pieces 4 and 5 are formed of rubber, synthetic resin, or the like, and have a width greater than that of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3. Each of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5 is glued to the outer side edge of the associated teeth-supporting 3 cloth piece 2 and 3, respectfully, on the side of the latter where the water-tight piece is exposed when the entire fastener is attached to an article ready for use.

As more clearly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner edges of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3 are bent downwardly, and then outwardly to be received and tightly held in the respectively associated teeth 1. The inner side edge 7 of each of the elastic water-tight pieces 4 and 5 is bent downwardly, and terminates short of the extreme inner side edge of the associated pawl-supporting cloth piece. The inner side edges 7 of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5 are adapted to be urged against each other as the fastener is closed in the manner as will be described hereinafter.

The outer side edges 8 of the water-tight pieces extend outwardly beyond the adjacent or outer side edges of the pawl-supporting cloth pieces. As in any of the conventional corresponding fasteners, a slidable fastening means 6 is provided for moving between a fastener opening position wherein the fastening means is positioned at the extreme right-hand end of the opposite rows of engaging teeth 1, and a fastener closing position wherein the fastening means is positioned at the extreme left-hand end of the rows of engaging teeth, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. As the fastening means 6 slides along the opposite rows of engaging teeth 1 from the opening position toward the closing position, the successive engaging teeth 1 in one row firmly engage or mesh with the corresponding engaging teeth 1 in the other row in a staggered relationship as seen in any of the conventional corresponding fasteners, but in the fastener of the present invention, the successive areas of the inner side edges 7 of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5 are urged to firmly abut against each other to provide a water-tight seal therebetween as the successive engaging pawls 1 in the opposite rows mesh with each other as mentioned hereinabove.

When the fastener as described above is attached to an article, such as a raincoat, trousers, rubber shoes,

other clothing, or the like, the opposite side edges of the article are passed over the underside of the outer side edges 8 of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5 to intermediate positions of the underside of the outer side edges of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3 and then glued to the water-tight pieces and teeth-supporting cloth pieces. A water-tight attachment or reinforcement piece 9 is glued to the end base or right-hand end of the fastener on the exposed side thereof across the water-tight pieces 4 and 5, and a second or axuiliary water-tight reinforcement piece 10 is also glued to the base end of the fastener on the reverse or opposite side thereof in a displaced relationship to the first-mentioned water-tight reinforcement piece. The provision of the auxiliary water-tight reinforcement piece 10 is for the purpose of increasing the reinforcement of the fastener, and, if desired, the auxiliary water-tight reinforcement piece 10 may be eliminated.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 which show the second embodiment of water-tight fastener of the invention in cross-section. The second embodiment is substantially similar to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 except for that the inner side edges 7 of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5 extend underneath the inner side edges of the pawl-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3 to be firmly held within the respectively associated teeth 1 so that the inner side edges of the water-tight pieces will abut against each other to provide a watertight seal therebetween as the fastener is in its closed position. For this purpose, each of the engaging teeth I is designed to provide an opening therein which is slight by larger than that provided in the teeth in the first embodiment which is merely sufficient to receive the inner side edge of the associated water-tight piece. As in the case of the first embodiment, the outer side edges 8 of the water-tight pieces extend beyond the adjacent side edges of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces. The second embodiment is attached to the article in the same manner as the first embodiment.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a third embodiment of fastener of the invention in cross-section. The third embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment. Each of the engaging pawls l is designed to provide an opening therein which is slightly larger than that provided in the pawl of the second embodiment so that the engaging teeth will receive one edge of the article 11 as well as the inner side edge of the associated water-tight piece. Thus, the opposite edges of the article 11 are shown if FIG. 7 as being superimposed on the inner side edges 8 of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5, which are in turn superimposed on the inner side edges of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3. Thus, in the third embodiment, the article 11 is glued to the underside of the outer side edges 8 of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5 and to a substantial area on the underside of the teeth-supporting cloth pieces 2 and 3.

From the foregoing description of same preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be noted that in each of the three embodiments, when the fastener is closed as the slidable fastening means 6 moves along the opposite rows of engaging pieces 1 from the fastener opening position to the fastener closing position, the opposite side edges of the water-tight pieces 4 and 5 are urged to abut against each other to provide a water-tight seal therebetween so as to water-tightly cover the now meshing engaging pawls 1, whereby there is no possibility for water leakage through between the teeth in the opposite rows. Inasmuch as the operation of the fastening means is not impeded in any way by the presence of the water-tight pieces, there is no inconvenience when the fastener is practically employed. Furthermore, since when the fastener is closed, the engaging teeth are completely concealed from view by the water-tight pieces, the fastener has an acceptable appearance.

Although the bese modes contemplated for carrying out the present invention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modification and variation may be made without departing from what is regarded to be the subject matter of the invention.

I claim:

1. A water-impervious fastening assembly for preventing the passage of water therepast, comprising, in combination:

engageable teeth;

cloth tape members connected to selectively engageable teeth, said cloth tape members having their inner side edges bent downwardly and outwardly forming a bent around portion and tightly received within said teeth;

a slider secured to said selectively engageable teeth for movement between a fastener open position and a fastener closed position;

water-impervious mem bers made of a material different than said cloth tape members and substantially impervious to water, each water-impervious mem- 6 ber being secured to the exposed surface of an 4. A water-impervious fastening assemblyaccording sociated one of said cl th t members, id wateto claim 1 for use in articles such as water-tight boots, rimpervious members having their inner side edges F watemght trousers the llke wherein: bent entirely around and overlying Said bent said cloth tape members include separate cloth 5 pieces;

said selectively engageable teeth include two opposite rows of engaging teeth supported by said separate cloth pieces at the inner side edges of said separound portion of said inner side edges of said cloth tape members and also tightly received within said teeth, said water-impervious members having their outer side edges extending beyond the outer side arate cloth pieces f meshing with each other; edges of Said cloth p members, the bent downsaid slider is in engagement with said opposite rows wardly around portion of the water-impervious of engaging teeth for movement between a fastener members having a smoothly rounded thickened closing position and a fastener opening position; portion extending substantially along the entire exsaid water-impervious members include resilient watent of the bent downwardly around portion of the terimpel'vious P Q each attache! to the PP last memioned member; and side of each of sald teeth-supporting cloth pieces and having the inner side edge extending beyond the adjacent side edge of the associated teeth-supporting cloth piece; and

said inner side edges of said water-impervious pieces being urged to abut against each other when said wherein, when said slider moves said selectively engageable teeth into said fastener closed position, said cloth tape members are sandwiched between said edges of said water-impervious members and Sald ff engageable teeth m said fastener fastening assembly is closed thereby to provide a closed position and at least a portion of said watewatepimpervio'us sea] therebetween and at h rimpervious members are urged y abut same time to completely cover said engaging teeth against each other to provide a water-impervious and at least one water-impervious reinforcement seal therebetween. 2 attachment.

2. A water-impervious fastening assembly according 5 5. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 1, wherein: to l m whefeihi the portion of Said cloth tape members and of Said said inner side edges of said water-impervious pieces terminate short of the extreme inner side edges of said teeth-supporting cloth pieces. 6. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 4, wherein:

said inner side edges of said water-impervious pieces waterimpervious members which are remote from said water-impervious seal are affixed to an article which is to be selectively opened and closed in a water-impervious fashion.

A Water-impervious fastening assembly according extend underneath the inner side edges of said Claim wherein; teeth-supporting cloth pieces.

the edges of said article in the vicinity of said water- 7, A t r-im ervi us faste i g assembly according impervious seal are contiguous with said selectively to claim 4, wherein: engageable teeth; and said water-impervious pieces having their outer side the ends of said cloth tape members and of said waedges Which extend beyond the Outer Side edges of ter-impervious members are bent around said ends i PP Cloth Pieces are attached to of said article contiguous with said selectively en- 40 Sand l gageable teeth in an arrangement Such that when 8. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 4, wherein:

two water-impervious reinforcement attachments are provided at the base end of said fastening assembly said slider moves said selectively engageable teeth into said fastener closed position, said teeth urge at least a portion of said artlcle towards each other, on the opposite Sides thereof which in mm urges a Portion P S aid cloth tape 9. A water-impervious fastening assembly according members toward each other, WhlCh in turn urges at to claim 4 wherein;

least a Portion f Said waterimpervious memhefs t0 the opposite inner side edges of said article are refirmly abut against each other to provlde Said Waceived in said selectively engageable teeth. ter-impervious seal therebetween. 

1. A water-impervious fastening assembly for preventing the passage of water therepast, comprising, in combination: engageable teeth; cloth tape members connected to selectively engageable teeth, said cloth tape members having their inner side edges bent downwardly and outwardly forming a bent around portion and tightly received within said teeth; a slider secured to said selectively engageable teeth for movement between a fastener open position and a fastener closed position; water-impervious members made of a material different than said cloth tape members and substantially impervious to water, each water-impervious member being secured to the exposed surface of an associated one of said cloth tape members, said waterimpervious members having their inner side edges bent entirely around and overlying said bent around portion of said inner side edges of said cloth tape members and also tightly received within said teeth, said water-impervious members having their outer side edges extending beyond the outer side edges of said cloth tape members, the bent downwardly around portion of the water-impervious members having a smoothly rounded thickened portion extending substantially along the entire extent of the bent downwardly around portion of the last-mentioned member; and wherein, when said slider moves said selectively engageable teeth into said fastener closed position, said cloth tape members are sandwiched between said edges of said waterimpervious members and said selectively engageable teeth in said fastener closed position and at least a portion of said waterimpervious members are urged to firmly abut against each other to provide a water-impervious seal therebetween.
 2. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the portion of said cloth tape members and of said waterimpervious members which are remote from said water-impervious seal are affixed to an article which is to be selectively opened and closed in a water-impervious fashion.
 3. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 2, wherein: the edges of said article in the vicinity of said water-impervious seal are contiguous with said selectively engageable teeth; and the ends of said cloth tape members and of said water-impervious members are bent around said ends of said article contiguous with said selectively engageable teeth in an arrangement such that, when said slider moves said selectively engageable teeth into said fastener closed position, said teeth urge at least a portion of said article towards each other, which in turn urges a portion of said cloth tape members toward each other, which in turn urges at least a portion of said waterimpervious members to firmly abut against each other to provide said water-impervious seal therebetween.
 4. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 1 for use in articles such as water-tight boots, raincoats, watertight trousers and the like, wherein: said cloth tape members include separate cloth pieces; said selectively engageable teeth include two opposite rows of engaging teeth supported by said separate cloth pieces at the inner side edges of said separate cloth pieces for meshing with each other; said slider is in engagement with said opposite rows of engaging teeth for movement between a fastener closing position and a fastener opening position; said water-impervious members include resilient waterimpervious pieces each attached to the exposed side of each of said teeth-supporting cloth pieces and having the inner side edge extending beyond the adjacent side edge of the associated teeth-supporting cloth piece; and said inner side edges of said water-impervious pieces being urged to abut against each other when said fastening assembly is closed thereby to provide a water-impervious seal therebetween and at the same time to completely cover said engaging teeth and at least one water-impervious reinforcement attachment.
 5. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said inner side edges of said water-impervious pieces terminate short of the extreme inner side edges of said teeth-supporting cloth pieces.
 6. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said inner side edges of said water-impervious pieces extend underneath the inner side edges of said teeth-supporting cloth pieces.
 7. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 4, wherein: said water-impervious pieces having their outer side edges which extend beyond the outer side edges of said teeth-supporting cloth pieces are attached to said article.
 8. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 4, wherein: two water-impervious reinforcement attachments are provided at the base end of said fastening assembly on the opposite sides thereof.
 9. A water-impervious fastening assembly according to claim 4, wherein: the opposite inner side edges of said article are received in said selectively engageable teeth. 